Angels GM Jerry Dipoto acknowledged Saturday to MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez that it’s unlikely Erick Aybar’s contract will be extended before the start of the 2012 regular season, but at the same time expressed confidence that something will get done eventually:

“We’ve had multiple talks with Erick and his people,” said Dipoto. “They’re aware of our designs. We want to keep Erick here for the long term. I like to believe it’s a formality that we signed Erick to a one-year deal and we can work toward an extension. We’re working through that, but I won’t really discuss the details, because I don’t think that’s advantageous to anybody.”

Aybar inked a one-year, $5.075 million contract in mid-January, avoiding arbitration. The 28-year-old shortstop is currently scheduled to become a free agent five days after the end of the 2012 World Series.

The Angels signed second baseman Howie Kendrick to a four-year, $33.5 million extension in early January.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Angels will acquire second baseman Ian Kinsler from the Tigers. It is not known yet what the Tigers will receive in return. Kinsler had to waive his no-trade clause in order for the deal to happen.

Kinsler, 35, hit .236/.313/.412 with 22 home runs, 52 RBI, 90 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 613 plate appearances for the Tigers this past season. He’s in the final year of his contract and will earn $10 million for the 2018 season.

The Angels were certainly looking to upgrade at second base and did so with Kinsler. They were also reportedly interested in Cesar Hernandez of the Phillies.